It began when no one was watching. It happened minus the scintillating lights and the crisp winter air.

Teams united during the sweltering heat of August. Through preseason camps and jamborees they fought separately, together, against one another and the tempestuous rains and waters that followed Hurricane Isaac.

In September, through the aftermath of a devastating storm, re-aclimating to classes and routine, to life on the gridiron, the programs and their players persevered.

On to October, as the weather began to chill and teams got hot, district play arrived, as did the intense emotions and encumbrances that only the most fierce of rivals provide.

November brought the playoffs, and with it, 160 of Louisiana's best teams across five classifications embarked on a month-long journey. Their destination: The Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

December is here. The pièce de résistance: the LHSAA State Farm Prep Classic presented by the NOLA Media Group.

The culmination of a fascinating season kicks off as 10 teams with one goal arrive in New Orleans to battle for the crown as Louisiana's best of 2012.

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune will provide unparalleled coverage of Saturday's finales. Our prep team has been building to this all season, and like the teams in the Dome, we've saved the best for last. We'll be on location all day with live updates, breaking news, chats, analysis, pictures, audio and video highlights, and, of course, thrilling game stories.

Next week we'll have tons of original content, including an analysis of the finals and how the champions rose to the occasion . We'll also take a deeper look back on the whole season and put a cap on 2012.

Finally, join us next Thursday at noon for a chat where we'll reminisce about the season and its top performers.

Be on the lookout for exciting new content announcements in the coming weeks. We'll continue to have our weekly recruiting chats on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. up through National Signing Day on Feb. 6, 2013. We're planning a full slate of thrilling coverage, so stay tuned.

And as fall ends, winter begins, so don't forget to follow the best prep team in the state for all your breaking news: